| Title: | Economic analysis using SWAT-simulated potential switchgrass and miscanthus yields in the Yazoo River Basin |
| Authors: | Kim, H. and P.B. Parajuli |
| Year: | 2012 |
| Journal: | Transactions of the ASABE |
| Volume (Issue): | 55(6) |
| Pages: | 2123-2134 |
| Article ID: | |
| DOI: | 10.13031/2013.42504 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | economic assessment |
| Secondary Application Category: | bioenergy crop, tree and/or vegetation assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 35,000 km^2 Yazoo River, located in northwest Mississippi, U.S. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | This study was carried out in the Yazoo River basin (YRB) in northwestern Mississippi to assess the potential
crop yield of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Model-simulated long-term streamflow, and soybean and corn yields for the watershed were
compared with available observed data. The results showed good agreement between simulated and observed values. The
average yield predicted by the calibrated SWAT model was 11 Mg ha-1 (from 8 to 13 Mg ha-1) for switchgrass and 34 Mg
ha-1 (from 25 to 45 Mg ha-1) for miscanthus. Both switchgrass and miscanthus yields were determined higher in the central part of the YRB than in other areas. The economic analysis estimated the average farm-gate breakeven prices of
switchgrass and miscanthus at $111 Mg-1 and $39 Mg-1, respectively. The breakeven prices of both switchgrass and miscanthus were estimated lower in the central regions of the YRB than in the other areas of the watershed due to higher crop yields. Conversely, the breakeven prices of both crops were higher in the northern regions of the watershed due to lower crop yields. This study demonstrated that SWAT-simulated bioenergy crop yields at the watershed scale can be used effectively in watershed-scale economic analysis to determine the farm-gate breakeven price, which may provide useful information to producers and watershed managers who are charged with significant land use decisions. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | Bioenergy crop, Breakeven price, Crop yield, SWAT, Watershed modeling |